Homelessness happens when a young person comes out. But a homeless youth is probably not going to stand on the side of the road with a sign. They’re going to look like your son, daughter, niece or nephew.

Being gay and coming out has changed since I was growing up, but it’s still not easy. We know that LGBTQ teens are six times more likely to experience homelessness, and there are over 4,700 homeless youth in Minnesota on any given night.

As Minnesotans, we pride ourselves on being a progressive, forward-thinking, compassionate and generous community. Yet, of the $1.6 billion that foundations and corporations grant annually in Minnesota, only 0.05% focuses on LGBTQ support. I think we can do better. Solving youth homelessness isn’t easy—but it starts with people like you and me to serve as a voice for the voiceless!

Letting them know that you’re a friend and you’re there to help with whatever they need is most important. To see the kids actually interact, and to see someone you’ve been helping get a new job, it’s really rewarding.